Multigrip touch closure fasteners

ABSTRACT

Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows users to releasably fasten together different portions of the article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—not only does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application incorporates by reference the entirety of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/146,704 filed Jan. 2, 2014, and alsoclaims priority thereto. To the full extent permitted by law, thepresent application also hereby incorporates by reference the entiretyof PCT/US2015/010005 filed Jan. 1, 2015 and claims priority to it.

BACKGROUND

Fasteners in the broadest sense include nails, screws, bolts, rivets,permanent and releasable adhesives, hook-and-loop materials, zippers,slidingly engaging fasteners, elastics, webs, cinches, ropes and stringsand other “cords”, wires, buckles, latches, clamps, crimps, plasticwraps, solder, cement, and many other examples. There are many differentkinds of fasteners made of many different kinds of materials anddesigned for use in fastening together many different types of objectsin many different situations subject to many different requirements suchas permanence, releasability, load-bearing capability, ease offastening, ease of unfastening, marine or weather or temperature orother environmental factor resistance, cost, ease of manufacturing,color choices, and flexibility, among others.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments are directed to technical problems such as loadslippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of tyingand/or untying knots. Some embodiments provide an article of manufactureincluding at least one tape substrate and at least one touch closurefastening means physically connected to the tape substrate. Thesubstrate maybe of fabric, for example, and has at least one side. Thesubstrate has a length-to-width ratio greater than one. The touchclosure fastening means serves as a means for releasably touch closurefastening at least one portion of the article to at least one otherportion of the article. In some embodiments, the touch closure fasteningmeans includes hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, and/or nanofibers.

In some embodiments, the article includes a tape which in turns includesthe tape substrate and the touch closure fastening means, which isformed from the substrate or adhered to the substrate, for example. Insome, the tape is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around acore, and/or braided; each of these terms has a particular meaningdefined in this document. Some embodiments include at least two tapes,which are braided with one another. Some embodiments include suturematerial in the substrate.

Some embodiments include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—notonly does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restrictsmovement of a load or other work piece. In some cases, the tape and thegrip strip are braided with one another.

Some embodiments of a tape-built article include at least two tapes,with each tape including a tape substrate and a touch closure fasteningmeans. Each tape substrate has at least one side, and in someembodiments each tape substrate has a length-to-width ratio of at leastthree. Each touch closure fastening means is physically connected to atleast one respective tape substrate. In some embodiments, at least oneof the tapes has at least two lanes. In some, at least two of the tapesare braided with one another. In some embodiments, each of at least twotapes has a respective touch closure fastening means that is differentfrom the touch closure fastening means of at least one other of thetapes.

Some embodiments include at least one grip strip, and at least one gripstrip and at least one of the tapes are spiraled, or braided, or bothspiraled and braided with one another. The grip strip has a mechanicalindentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

Some embodiments of a tape-built article include at least one tape,which includes a tape substrate and a touch closure fastening means. Thetape substrate has at least one side, and the tape substrate has alength-to-width ratio of at least five. The touch closure fasteningmeans is physically connected to the tape substrate, and at least onegrip strip is physically connected to the tape.

Some embodiments include a rope containing the tape and the grip strip.In some, the rope or other article has a length of at least three metersand a length-to-width ratio of at least forty, for example. In some, thegrip strip comprises an adhesion grip substance, or an abrasive gripsubstance, for example. Some articles include at least two grip strips.In some, the substrate includes polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramidsynthetic fiber.

Examples are provided herein to help illustrate aspects of thetechnology, but the examples given within this document do not describeall possible embodiments. Embodiments are not limited to the specificmaterials, arrangements, ratios, features, approaches, or scenariosprovided herein. A given embodiment may include additional or differenttechnical features, and may otherwise depart from the examples providedherein.

Thus, the examples given are merely illustrative. In particular, thisSummary is not intended to identify key features or essential featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limitthe scope of the claimed subject matter. Rather, this Summary isprovided to introduce—in a simplified form—some technical concepts thatare further described below in the Detailed Description. The innovationis defined with claims, and to the extent this Summary conflicts withthe claims, the claims should prevail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description will be given with reference to theattached drawings. These drawings only illustrate selected aspects andthus do not fully determine coverage or scope.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and loop fastenermechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and mat fastenermechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a blended hook and loopfastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a mushroom head fastenermechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and orifice fastenermechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a nanofiber fastener mechanismsuitable for use in some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a laned section of a tape accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating one embodiment of thelaning shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are each a front view illustrating a differently lanedsection of tape in some embodiments.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are each a front view illustrating a striped section oftape in some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a staggered section of a tapeaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a section of a tape in someembodiments having staggers in two lanes and having a third lane that iscontinuous rather than staggered.

FIG. 15 is a front view including a magnified area illustrating asection of a tape in some embodiments that have a blended fasteningportion.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view illustrating embodiments of a tapecombined with a mechanical indentation grip.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view illustrating embodiments of a tapecombined with an adhesion grip.

FIG. 18 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a spiraled articlecontaining two tapes.

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a rope articlecontaining several tapes.

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a braided multigriparticle, which contains a two-laned tape braided with a grip strip.

FIG. 21 is a front view illustrating embodiments of a braided articlewhich includes a braided sheet of tape(s).

FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a braided ropearticle made by braiding three cylindrical tapes.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are front views illustrating a use of tapes to securerope ends in some embodiments.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are cross-sectional views illustrating a use of tape tosecure work pieces in some embodiments.

FIG. 27 is a side view illustrating a use of tape to secure work piecesin some embodiments.

FIG. 28 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a surgical tapestrand.

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a surgical tapestrand wrapped around a blood vessel according to some embodiments.

FIG. 30 is a front view illustrating a section of a tape having apunctuated lane according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

Innovative embodiments presented herein include, for example, new touchclosure fastener articles which facilitate new and/or better usage ofsuch familiar fastener mechanisms. We therefore begin by consideringsome of the touch closure fasteners which can be used as raw materialwhen implementing embodiments described herein.

Many touch closure fastener mechanisms have been known for years. Forexample, Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented a hook and loopfastener mechanism in 1948. Many variations on the hook and loopfastener mechanism are now widely used, including variations in productscommercially available under brand names such as VELCRO® (mark of VelcroIndustries, B.V.) or DURAGRIP® (mark of Fastech of Jacksonville, Inc.).Other types of mechanical fasteners are also known, such as slidinglyengaging fasteners, other mushroom head closures, releasably adhesivenanofiber surfaces, so-called Metaklett fasteners (from the German“Metall” meaning metal plus “Klettband” meaning hook-and-pile tape), andmany others. Some touch closure fasteners utilize mechanical engagement,e.g., a hook partially passed through a loop, a hook partially tangledin a mat, a hook partially passed through an orifice, or mutuallyengaged mushroom head undersides. Other touch closure fasteners utilizefriction, magnetism, or Van der Waals force to releasably hold togethertwo surfaces. These mechanical and other fastening means discussedherein as raw materials for embodiments are collectively referred toherein as “touch closure fastening means” and are referred to herein insmaller groups as “mechanical fastening means”, “frictional fasteningmeans”, “magnetic fastening means”, “Van der Waals fastening means”,“nanofiber fastening means”, “mushroom head fastening means” (includingslidingly engaging fasteners and other shapes), and so on.

Some touch closure fasteners and/or variations on them are illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 6, and/or in figures of patent documents which areincorporated herein by reference. Each Figure shows a top layer and abottom layer of a fastener sample; one of skill will understand thatadditional layers could also be present in samples that are notexplicitly depicted here. Also, one of skill will understand that alayer including hooks, mushroom heads, microfibers, nanofibers, and/orother projections can often be combined with a layer including loops, amat, a Van der Waals surface, and/or orifices, to thereby form a workingtouch closure fastener means, regardless of whether those two particularlayers are explicitly depicted next to each other in one of the Figures.

Each of FIGS. 1 through 6 can be viewed in two different ways. First,they illustrate close-up views of fastener means which (with thepossible exception of FIG. 3's symmetric variation noted below) arefamiliar in the context of fastener strips, fastener coins, and fastenersheets. That is, under a first view the FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 depictsmall samples that were snipped from familiar fasteners already known toone of skill in the art.

However, upon full reading and comprehension of the present disclosure,it will also be appreciated that these figures are not strictly limitedto what is already known, and that it would therefore be misleading tolabel them as mere prior art. Under a second view the FIGS. 1 through 6depict small samples snipped from article embodiments presented herein.These article of manufacture embodiments are not the familiar fastenerstrips, coins or sheets, but instead provide users with variations thathave been created by blending, laning, striping, staggering, mottling,braiding, spiraling, and/or multigripping raw fastening materialaccording to the teachings herein. Each of the terms “blending”,“laning”, “striping”, “staggering”, “mottling”, “braiding”, “spiraling”,and “multigripping” has a special meaning defined herein using examplesset forth in the text and Figures.

FIG. 1 shows a hook and loop fastener sample 100 resembling a fastenerdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 to George de Mestral.Hooks 102 attached to a hook substrate 104 releasably engage loops 106which are attached to a loop substrate 108. Mestral deserves a place ofparticular respect as a pioneering inventor whose work has inspired manyadditional innovations and made the world a better place for manypeople.

FIG. 2 shows a hook and loop fastener sample 200 resembling fastenersdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,981 to McCormack et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,318 to Ott et al., or US Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002/0037390 of Shepard et al. Hooks 102 attached tohook substrate 104 releasably engage threads 202 of a fibrous mat 204which is attached to loop substrate 108.

FIG. 3 illustrates two independent but combinable variations. Onevariation takes the form of a fastener sample 300 in which blended hooks102 and loops 106 are used. As a result of blending, both hooks andloops are attached to each instance of a substrate 302, and any givensmall area of the blended material includes both hooks 102 and loops 106(and/or mat 204, in a variation). At least some of the blended hooks 102of each instance of the substrate 302 releasably engage at least some ofthe blended loops 106 which are attached to the other instance of thesubstrate 302. The substrate 302 instances may be made of the same ordifferent material as one another, such as nylon, plastic, or any of theother materials suitable for use in substrates 104, 108. FIG. 3 alsoshows a double-pronged hook 304 variation, resembling hooks describedfor example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,310 to Fischer. The double-prongedhook and the blending of hooks and loops/mat are independent combinablevariations, so a given article may use double-pronged hooks withoutblending, or use blending without double-pronged hooks, or use bothdouble-pronged hooks and the blending of hooks and loops and/or mat.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fastener sample 400 which resembles mushroom head,slidingly engaging, and/or other hermaphroditic (e.g. symmetric)fasteners that are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,811 toTomanek et al. FIGS. 1a-1f and accompanying text, U.S. Pat. No.5,902,427 to Zinke et al. FIG. 7 and accompanying text, U.S. Pat. No.4,894,060 to Nestegard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,210 to Kayaki, U.S. Pat. No.4,290,174 to Kalleberg, U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,943 to Duffy, U.S. Pat. No.8,375,529 to Duffy, or U.S. Pat. No. 8,601,648 to Poulakis. Heads 402attached to a substrate 302 releasably interlock with opposing heads 402which are attached to another substrate 302 that is made of a same ordifferent material as the first substrate. Some fasteners combinemushroom heads 402 with a fibrous mat 204, as described for example inU.S. Pat. No. 5,902,427 to Zinke et al. FIG. 6 and accompanying text,U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,183 to Wollman FIG. 5 and accompanying text, or U.S.Pat. No. 3,138,841 to Naimer FIG. 7 and accompanying text.

FIG. 5 shows a hook and hole fastener sample 500 resembling a fastenerdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,767 to Allan. Hooks 502attached to a hook substrate 504 releasably engage holes (a.k.a.orifices or openings) 506 which are formed in a hole substrate 508. Asimilar use of orifices is made in Metaklett fasteners.

FIG. 6 shows a nanofiber fastener sample 600 resembling a fastenerdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,769 to Dubrow. Nanofibers602 attached to a nanofiber substrate 604 releasably contact a surface606 of an adhered material 608, by exploiting van der Waals force, forexample. Other nanofiber fasteners are described for example in U.S.Pat. No. 7,181,811 to Tomanek et al. FIGS. 3a-4b and accompanying text,U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,161 to Knowles et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,616to Dubrow et al. Nanofiber hooks and microfiber hooks may be shaped likecandy canes, spirals, partial spirals, or partial arcs, for example.Tomanek discusses a micro-fastening system employing a plurality ofmating nanoscale fastening elements, and a method of manufacturing amicrofastening system. The mating nanoscale fastening elements areformed by functionalizing nanotubes having an ordered array of hexagonswith pentagons and heptagons at particular heterojunctions.

Other touch closure fasteners are illustrated and otherwise described,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,266 to Lu et al., and U.S. Pat. No.4,875,259 to Appledorn. Lu discusses a reclosable mechanical fastenercomprising a fastening component having a surface structure by which twosuch fastening components can become releasably attached. The fasteningcomponent is a composite of a tough substrate and a fastening layer thatforms said surface structure, which fastening layer is formed from acured oligomeric resin composition having one or more like or differenthard segments, one or more like or different soft segments, and one ormore like or different monovalent moieties containing aradiation-sensitive, addition-polymerizable, function group. Appledorndiscusses an intermeshable article useful for purposes such asfastening, e.g., closing, coupling and connecting. The article includesa member which has at least one major surface which is a structuredsurface. The structured surface is made up of a plurality of elements.Each element has at least one side inclined relative to the plane of themember at an angle sufficient to form a taper. Thus, each element maymesh with at least one corresponding element when brought into contacttherewith and adhere thereto at least partially because of thefrictional force of adherence of the contacting sides. The correspondingelement may be the article itself, another similar article or adissimilar article, such as for example a container having acorrespondingly shaped structured surface. In one configuration, theelements are arranged side by side to form a plurality of linear ridgesand grooves whereby the sides of adjacent elements form the sides ofeach groove.

Touch closure fasteners are made from materials which include, forexample, nylon, polyester, thermoplastic resin, synthetic resinousfluorine-containing polymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, glass, metal,plastic, textiles, rubbers, nanofibers (which can optionally comprisesuch materials as, e.g., silicon, glass, quartz, plastic, metal,polymers, TiO, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe,MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN,GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, AIS, AIP, AISb,SiOl, SiO2, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, polyacrylonitrile,polyetherketone, polyimide, an aromatic polymer, or an aliphaticpolymer), a film laminated with an amorphous polymer layer to aprebonded nonwoven web, needle-punched staple fibers to which a foamedacrylic binder has been applied, woven or non-woven fibers, films, Kraftpaper, thermoplastic material, ceramics, ultraviolet radiation-curableorganic oligomeric resin, and/or carbon nanotubes. Manufacturingprocesses employed include molding, curing, weaving, cutting, shearing,machining, forming, nanotube functionalizing, growing or depositingnanofibers, heating, and bonding, for example. Tapes taught herein mayalso be treated with fire retardant, moisture-resistant,corrosion-resistant, waterproof, and/or other sealants, dyes,nanomaterial coatings, or chemical treatments.

To the full extent permitted by applicable laws of the pertinentjurisdiction in which this disclosure document is examined, each of thefollowing US patent documents is incorporated herein to the full extentof its subject matter specifically cited herein and in any case as toits description of fasteners (a.k.a., closures, adhesives, etc.), theirmanufacture, and their uses: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,009,235, 3,138,841,4,290,174, 4,454,183, 4,761,318, 4,775,310, 4,875,259, 4,894,060,5,067,210, 5,058,247, 5,179,767, 5,196,266, 5,902,427, 5,997,981,7,132,161, 7,181,811, 7,651,769, 7,972,616, 8,375,529, 8,480,943,8,549,714, 8,601,648, and 2002/0,037,390.

Many patent documents incorporated herein by reference describe someparticular fastening means, some particular methods for manufacturingfasteners and some particular uses for fasteners. Incorporatedparticularities are interesting, but the present disclosure would not becrippled by non-incorporation (exclusion) of the listed patentdocuments. By way of analogy, a modern chemical technology patent neednot describe how to obtain basic chemical elements, a modern mechanicaltechnology patent need not describe how to make basic components such asscrews or springs, and a modern computing technology patent need notdescribe how to make semiconductor chips or wires or displays, becausein each case these items are readily available as raw materials withwhich to innovate. Similarly, the present disclosure need not describein great detail how to make hooks, how to make loops, how to makemushroom heads, or how to make nanofibers, for example, becausemanufacturing methods capable of producing samples like those depictedin FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are well understood today. One can readilyobtain materials having depicted sample fastening means, and then usethem according to the teachings herein as raw materials to produceinnovative articles through laning, striping, staggering, braiding,spiraling, and/or multigripping.

The technical character of embodiments described herein will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art, and will also be apparent inseveral ways to a wide range of attentive readers. Some embodimentsaddress technical problems such as those evident in or created by workpiece slippage, load shifting, odd or varying load sizes, knotcomplexity, and knot bulk. Some embodiments include technicaladaptations such as fasteners configured by blending, laning, striping,staggering, braiding, spiraling, and/or multigripping. Some embodimentsmodify technical functionality of fastener tape by blending, laning,striping, staggering, and/or multigripping based on technicalconsiderations such as whether a load can be dented or scratched orpunctured to be better kept in place, whether load size is predictable,and whether environmental conditions contraindicate use of metalfastener components. Technical advantages of some embodiments includeimproved usability, increased reliability, lower slippage rate,simplified lashing and unlashing, reduced fastening hardwarerequirements, faster fastening and unfastening, lower inventoryrequirements, and smaller device space required.

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments such as thoseillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used hereinto describe the same. But alterations and further modifications of thefeatures illustrated herein, and additional technical applications ofthe abstract principles illustrated by particular embodiments herein,which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art(s) and havingpossession of this disclosure, should be considered within the scope ofthe claims.

The meaning of terms is clarified in this disclosure, so the claimsshould be read with careful attention to these clarifications. Specificexamples are given, but those of skill in the relevant art(s) willunderstand that other examples may also fall within the meaning of theterms used, and within the scope of one or more claims. Terms do notnecessarily have the same meaning here that they have in general usage(particularly in non-technical usage), or in the usage of a particularindustry, or in a particular dictionary or set of dictionaries.Reference numerals may be used with various phrasings, to help show thebreadth of a term. Omission of a reference numeral from a given piece oftext does not necessarily mean that the content of a Figure is not beingdiscussed by the text. The inventor asserts and exercises his right tohis own lexicography. Quoted terms are defined explicitly, but quotationmarks are not used when a term is defined implicitly. Terms may bedefined, either explicitly or implicitly, here in the DetailedDescription and/or elsewhere in the application file.

As used herein, “include” allows additional elements (i.e., includesmeans comprises) unless otherwise stated. “Consists of” means consistsessentially of, or consists entirely of. X consists essentially of Ywhen the non-Y part of X, if any, can be freely altered, removed, and/oradded without altering the functionality of claimed embodiments so faras a claim in question is concerned.

Throughout this document, use of the optional plural “(s)”, “(es)”, or“(ies)” means that one or more of the indicated feature is present. Forexample, “grip(s)” means “one or more grips” or equivalently “at leastone grip”.

As used herein “blending” or “blended” or “blend” means that bothhooks/mushrooms and loops/mat are attached to each instance of asubstrate of a fastener material, and any given 0.5 by 0.5 cm or largersurface area of the blended material includes hooks and/or mushroomheads and also includes loops and/or mat. Moreover, in operation of atouch closure fastener produced by blending, at least some of theblended hooks and/or mushroom heads of each instance of the substratereleasably engage at least some of the blended loops and/or mat attachedto the other instance of the substrate. Hooks may be shaped like candycanes, like partial coils, like duck head profiles, or like a portion ofan arch, for example. In blended embodiments, as in other embodiments,the ratio of hooks to loops (or hook area to mat area, for example) isnot necessarily 1:1.

“Microblending” or “microblended” or “microblend” means the same thingas “blending” or “blended” or “blend”, except that the size requirementis 0.05 by 0.05 cm rather than 0.5 by 0.5 cm.

“Macroblending” or “macroblended” or “macroblend” means the same thingas “blending” or “blended” or “blend”, except that the size requirementis 1.5 by 1.5 cm rather than 0.5 by 0.5 cm.

Some embodiments do not qualify as macroblended but are better describedas “mottled” (with “mottling”, in a “mottle” arrangement) than as havinglanes. For example, in some mottled embodiments the various touchclosure fastening means are arranged in a checkerboard pattern, orarranged in a random or semi-random tiled pattern.

FIG. 3 shows an example with two substrates 302, each substrate bearinga blended portion that includes hooks and loops. FIG. 15 shows anexample with a single substrate 1504 of a section 1500 of a tape 708that bears a blended portion 1506. As shown in magnified region 1502,the blended portion 1506 in this example includes hooks 102, loops 106and mat 204 components. In double substrate embodiments consistent withFIG. 3, each substrate may be fastened to at least the other substrateby closure of the blended touch closure fastening means. In some doublesubstrate embodiments consistent with FIG. 3, one or both substrates mayalso be fastened to itself at two locations by closure of the blendedtouch closure fastening means. In single substrate embodiments likethose illustrated in FIG. 15, the single substrate may be fastened toitself at two or more locations by closure of the blended touch closurefastening means.

As used herein, “tape” means an article or a portion of an article which(a) has at least one side, (b) if laid on a flat surface would have alength-to-width ratio of at least four unless otherwise expresslystated, i.e., would be at least four times as long at its maximum lengthas it is wide at its maximum width unless otherwise expressly stated,and (c) includes a touch closure fastening means extending from, formedfrom, integral with, and/or adhered to, at least one of its sides. Otherlength-to-width ratios which may be expressly stated include three, two,five, seven, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty.

As used herein, “touch closure fastening means layer” means a hooklayer, a loop layer, a mat layer, a blended hook and loop layer, ablended hook and mat layer, a mushroom head layer, an orifice layer, aVan der Waals layer, a microfiber layer, a nanofiber layer, or anotherinterfacing portion of a touch closure fastening means. FIG. 1 shows anexample of a loop layer and an example of a hook layer. FIG. 2 shows anexample of a mat layer and an example of a hook layer. FIG. 3 shows twoblended hook and loop layers. FIG. 4 shows two mushroom head layers.FIG. 5 shows an example of an orifice layer and an example of a hooklayer. FIG. 6 shows an example of a Van der Waals layer and an exampleof a nanofiber layer.

As used herein, “grip” or “grip layer” or “grip substance” refers tomaterial which (a) is not a touch closure fastening means layer, and (b)when placed adjacent to a work piece or other item tends to reducemovement of the item through friction, mechanical indentation, and/oradhesion. Some examples of mechanical indentation grip substances aregrits used on sandpaper or used by mechanical sanders or grinders,spikes, and teeth. Some examples of frictional grip substances arerubber and antiskid or antislip plastic or composite materials. Someexamples of adhesion grip substances are removable glues, gummymaterials, and tacky materials.

As used herein “laning” or “laned” or “lane” refers to a side of a tape(as defined above), in which the tape side is divided longitudinally,i.e., parallel to the long axis of the tape, into at least two regionsreferred to herein as “lanes”. Each of the pertinent lanes includes atouch closure fastening means layer extending from, formed from,integral with, and/or adhered to, the region of the tape side which lieswithin the lane, and at least two different touch closure fasteningmeans layers are present. For example, one lane may include hooks whileanother lane of the same side of the same tape includes loops, or onelane may include mushroom heads while another lane of the same side ofthe same tape includes a mat. Either or both sides of the tape may belaned. A laned side may have two, three, or more lanes. Lanes may bedifferent widths. Lane edges need not be perfectly straight, but aregenerally longitudinal. A given touch closure fastening means layer canbe used in only a single lane of a tape side, or it may be used in morethan one lane of a given tape side. Not every lane need include a touchclosure fastening means layer, but at least two different touch closurefastening means layers will be present when the lanes of a given sideare considered as a group; a tape having only hooks on one side andhaving only loops on the other side, for example, is not laned.

FIGS. 7 through 10 show some of the many possible examples of laning. InFIG. 7, a laned section 700 of a tape 708 has three lanes 702, 704, and706. In FIG. 8, a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the laningused in FIG. 7 is given, in which lane 702 includes a hook layer andlane 706 includes a loop layer. Other embodiments are also consistentwith FIG. 7. Lane 704 in this FIG. 8 example includes an abrasive gritmechanical indentation grip substance 806. In this example, one side 802of the tape section 700 is laned, and the other side 804 of the tapesection 700 is not laned. In other examples, other grip substances areused, and in still other examples, no grip substance is used.

As further illustration of grips, cross-sectional view FIG. 16 showsspikes 1602 extending from a substrate 302; spikes are a mechanicalindentation grip. Cross-sectional view FIG. 17 shows mushroom heads 402extending from a substrate 302, with an adjacent lane of a tackynon-reactive adhesive 1702 grip substance. An adhesive grip substancemay include, for example, removable adhesives, removablepressure-sensitive adhesive(s), low adhesion contact adhesive(s) of thekinds used on Post-It® brand note pads or Beautone® brand note pads toremovably secure a stack of sheets, and/or removable contact adhesive ofthe kind used in Glue Dots® brand products for affixing a removable cardor plastic stock to a mailing piece, for example. Post-It® is a mark of3M Company Corporation, Beautone® is a mark of Yuen Foong Paper Co.Ltd., and Glue Dots® is a mark of Glue Dots International, LLC.

FIG. 9 shows a laned section 900 of tape having three lanes 902, 904,906 of two different widths. In some other three-lane examples threedifferent lane widths are used, and in some, such as FIG. 7, each lanehas the same width.

FIG. 10 shows a laned section 1000 of tape having four lanes 1002, 1004,1008, and 1012. In this example a lane border 1010 is generallystraight, whereas another lane border 1006 is not generally straight butis nonetheless easily perceived by even a casual observer as beinggenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis 1014 of the tape 708. Inthis example the non-straight border is continuous and sinusoidal, butin other embodiments a sawtooth, swirl, arcuate, crenellated,punctuated, jagged, and/or other non-straight yet longitudinal border isused. For example, FIG. 30 shows a section of a tape having a punctuatedlane 3002 within a larger lane 3004. This punctuated lane is illustratedby rectangular and ovoid elements in the drawing, but it will beunderstood by those in the art that a punctuated lane may include asingle shape (e.g., include only rectangles, or only circles), mayinclude shapes other than those shown (e.g., irregular shapes, starshapes, wedges), and may include one, two, three, four, or moredifferent shapes. Also, the shapes of the illustrated punctuated laneare arranged sinusoidally in the enclosing lane, but it will beunderstood by those in the art that a punctuated lane may include shapeswhich are arranged in one or more lines, in a checkerboard pattern,randomly within a lane, and/or otherwise. The materials used to form thepunctuated lane may be any of the materials noted herein for fastening,for gripping, or both. The individual elements of the punctuated lanemay be applied by adhesion, for example, and in particular may bedropped onto the substrate 302 in a softened or liquid form and thencured or permitted to set. Some constructed prototypes include (a)hook-bearing quarter circles arranged in a line in a surrounding lane ofmat material, (b) mat-bearing quarter circles arranged in a line in asurrounding lane of hook material, (c) rectangles of sandpaper adheredto a substrate by multipurpose cement or adhesive and arranged grit sideup in a line in a surrounding lane of hook material, (d) rectangles ofsandpaper similarly adhered and arranged grit side up in a line in asurrounding lane of mat material, (e) a cord of plastic arranged in arunning stitch through holes in a substrate which has hook material onone face and mat material on its other face, with the holes alternatingbetween left and right edges of the lane as they progress along thelength of the substrate or a portion thereof, and (f) dots of materialapplied to one or the other or both faces of a substrate which has hookmaterial on one face and mat material, with the dots formed of caulk,silicone, rubber, or sealant materials.

As a further example, it will be understood that a ball whose exteriorhas only a mat is not laned, a target which has only hooks is not laned,and the ball-plus-target combination is likewise not laned, because inthis case no single side bears multiple different touch closurefastening means layers. Similarly, a human-wearable suit which has onlyloops is not laned, a wall-mounted sheet on which a jumper wearing thesuit can land and stick is not laned, and the suit-plus-sheetcombination is likewise not laned, again because no single side bearsmultiple different touch closure fastening means layers.

As used herein “striping” or “striped” or “stripe” refers to a side of atape (as defined above), in which the tape side would be laned ifrotated relative to its longitudinal axis while maintaining the positionof the touch closure fastening means layers, and resized to fit thetape's size. Alternatively, in a computer graphics model of the tape,the stripes could be rotated as a group to bring them into parallelalignment with the longitudinal axis of the tape section. Forconvenience, striping can be thought of as a rotated and possiblyenlarged or reduced version of laning.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show some of the many possible examples of striping. InFIG. 11, a striped section 1100 of a tape 708 has stripes 1102 through1114. The stripes in this example include two or more touch closurefastening means layers, and include zero or more grip substances. Ifrotated one quarter turn, reduced in width to collectively match thetape width, and elongated, the stripes would become lanes. FIG. 12 showsa striped section 1200 of a tape 708 with stripes 1202, 1204, and 1206,in which stripe border 1208 is not straight but rather has a sawtoothform. The variations noted above for lanes generally, and for laneborders in particular, also apply to stripes and stripe borders.

As used herein “staggering” or “staggered” or “stagger” refers to a sideof a tape (as defined above), in which lane segments are positioned withthe end of a given lane segment located partway along an adjacent lanesegment. Staggered lane segments are thus reminiscent of brickarrangements in brick walls; bricks are often laid with the end of onebrick located partway along an adjacent brick.

FIG. 13 shows one of the many possible examples of staggering. Astaggered section 1300 of a tape 708 has staggers 1304 arranged in lanes1302. In this example there are three lanes of equal width, each staggerhas the same length, each stagger end 1306 lies near a midpoint of thelength of an adjacent stagger, and the stagger borders 1310 are straightline segments. In other embodiment examples, however, one or more ofthese characteristics differs, e.g., an embodiment may have two or morelanes, lanes of two or more widths, staggers of two or more differentlengths, stagger ends lying distant from adjacent stagger midpoints aswell as unaligned with adjacent stagger ends, and non-straight bordersas shown and/or discussed for instance in connection with FIGS. 10, 12,and 14.

Moreover, the order in which touch closure fastening means layers appearin staggers as one traverses a lane may be regular or randomized, anembodiment may include grip substances in zero or more staggers, and thetouch closure fastening means layer and/or grip substance within astagger may fill all or only a substantial portion (namely, at leastthree-quarters) of the area of a stagger, in a particular embodiment. Insome embodiments, for example, touch closure fastening means layers andin some cases a grip substance appear in the staggers of a lane in atleast one of the following periodic sequences, or in the reverse orderof at least one of these sequences:

hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, grip, . . .hook, loop, grip, hook, loop, grip, hook, loop, grip, . . .hook, mat, hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, hook, mat, grip, . . .hook, loop, hook, loop, grip, hook, loop, hook, loop, grip, . . .hook, mat, hook, mat, hook, mat, . . .hook, loop, hook, loop, hook, loop, . . .hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, mat, grip, . ..hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, loop, grip, hook, grip, mat, grip, .. .hook, mat, grip, hook, loop, grip, hook, mat, grip, hook, loop, grip, .. .mushroom head, grip, mushroom head, grip, mushroom head, grip, . . .blend, grip, blend, grip, blend, grip, . . .mushroom head, grip, blend, grip, mushroom head, grip, blend, grip, . ..

As another example, FIG. 14 shows a section 1400 of a tape 708 which hasstaggers 1304 in two lanes 1302 and a third lane that is continuousrather than staggered. In this example the staggered lanes are on eachside of the continuous lane, and the continuous lane bears a grip 1402,but other spatial arrangements of staggers occur in other embodiments,and other embodiments do not necessarily include any grips 1402.

The foregoing examples focus largely on tapes, but some embodimentsinclude spatial arrangements other than simple flat tapes. For example,long narrow tapes may be braided or spiraled, as shown in FIGS. 18through 22, to produce new articles. Within such embodiments, eachindividual tape has two sides, and the article overall has at least oneside bearing at least one touch closure fastening means and—in someembodiments—also bearing at least one grip.

As used herein “spiraling” or “spiraled” or “spiral” refers to anarticle (a.k.a. device) or portion thereof having at least one length oftape (as defined above to include at least one touch closure fasteningmeans) which is wrapped around a core without overlapping itself,without overlapping another length of tape, and without being overlappedby another length of tape. The core may be formed of one or morematerials, which are not necessarily suitable for forming tape, andwhich do not necessarily include any touch closure fastening means.

As used herein “braiding” or “braided” or “braid” refers to an article(a.k.a. device) or portion thereof having a tape (as defined above toinclude at least one touch closure fastening means, and as illustratedby examples herein) and in which (a) at least part of the tape overlapsitself, (b) at least part of the tape overlaps at least part of anothertape, (c) at least part of the tape is overlapped by at least part ofanother tape, (d) at least part of the tape overlaps at least part of astrip of another material which meets the size requirements to qualifyas a tape but lacks any touch closure fastening means, and/or (e) atleast part of the tape is overlapped by at least part of a strip ofanother material which meets the size requirements to qualify as a tapebut lacks any touch closure fastening means.

FIG. 18 shows a portion 1800 of a spiraled article, which in thisexample is an article that has two adjacent tapes 708 spiraled around acore 1802 to form a tape spiral 1806 with a spiral gap 1804 in the tapespiral 1806, and an exterior side 1808. In this example the core 1802 issubstantially cylindrical with a round cross-section. In otherembodiments, one or more of these features may differ, e.g., there maybe one or more tapes 708, zero or more gaps between tape(s), anon-cylindrical core such as a cone-shaped core or a core with multiplecomponents spaced apart from one another, and/or a non-round core suchas a core whose cross-section is triangular, square, otherwisepolygonal, ovoid, or irregularly shaped.

FIG. 19 shows a portion 1900 of a rope article which has tape(s) 708spiraled and/or braided into a rope 1902 that has an exterior side 1808.One of skill will understand that individual tapes have sides, and thatan article which is formed by spiraling and/or braiding one or moretapes, possibly with other non-tape material(s), also has at least oneside of its own. When necessary to distinguish between them, such itemscan be referred to as a “tape side” as opposed to an “article side”,(specifically a “braided article side” or “spiraled article side”), orvice versa, for example. When context does not dictate otherwise, “side”refers to both tape side(s) and article side(s).

FIG. 20 shows a portion 2000 of a braided article, which is this exampleis an article that has a two-laned tape 708 braided with a strip 2002 ofanother material which meets the size requirements to qualify as a tapebut lacks any touch closure fastening means. In this example the strip2002 bears a grip substance 2004, such as a mechanical indentation gripsubstance, a frictional grip substance, and/or an adhesion gripsubstance. Other braided article embodiments have a different number ofbraided elements, a different number of tape(s), have two or more gripstrips 2002, and/or lack any grip strip. In FIG. 20, as in FIGS. 18, 19,21, and 22, the tape(s) used in the braided and/or spiraled article orportion thereof may have any combination of the tape features discussedherein and/or illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 17.

FIG. 21 shows a portion 2100 of a braided article which in this exampleis a braided sheet 2106 that has a tape 708 braided with other tape(s)and/or with strip(s) of material which meets the size requirements toqualify as a tape but lacks any touch closure fastening means. The sheet2106 has a forward-facing side 2102 and a backward-facing side 2104.

FIG. 22 shows a portion 2200 of a braided article which in this exampleis a braided rope made by braiding three cylindrical tapes 708. The rope1902 has an exterior side 1808.

As used herein “multigripping” or “multigripped” or “multigrip” refersto an article (a.k.a. device) or portion thereof having both at leastone tape and also having at least one grip to which the at least onetape is (a) braided, (b) spiraled, (c) formed integrally with, and/or(d) permanently adhered or otherwise permanently secured, e.g., clamped,stapled, or riveted. The tape can releasably fasten to itself or anothertape of the article, whereas the grip helps releasable secure a workpiece. A grip strip can physically connected to a tape by virtue ofbeing spiraled around a core that the tape is also spiraled around, byvirtue of being braided with the tape, or by virtue of being glued tothe tape's substrate, for example. A grip strip may be continuous orpunctuated.

FIGS. 23 through 29 illustrate a few of the many possible uses of tapes,braided articles, and spiraled articles. FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate useof removably self-adhering tapes 708 to secure the ends of twoconventional ropes 2300 (e.g., hemp or nylon ropes) which are knottedtogether. Cross-sectional views in FIGS. 25 and 26, and a side view inFIG. 27, each illustrate use of removably self-adhering tapes 708 tosecure loads of work pieces 2500. The work pieces 2500 may beirregularly shaped, as in FIGS. 25 and 27, or they may each be similaror identical in shape to one another, as in FIG. 26.

A wide variety of work pieces 2500 can be secured in whole or in part bytapes 708 and/or by tape-built articles such as articles created byspiraling and/or braiding tape(s) 708. Some of the many examples of workpieces include pipes, logs, tubing, lumber, leather goods, textilegoods, items containing plastic, items containing wood, and flesh. Someof the many examples of uses for tape 708, braided tape articles, andspiral tape articles include securing a flashlight to one's forearm,lashing goods together, medical uses noted below, tasks which mightotherwise be performed using ropes knotted to themselves and/or to oneanother and/or to other items, tasks which might otherwise be performedusing bungee cords, and tasks which might otherwise be performed usingcargo covers or netting. For tasks in which tape-built articles replaceor supplement conventional ropes, the tape-built articles may havedimensions similar to the conventional ropes, in terms of width orlength or both. For example, some tape-built ropes are at least threemeters long, and some are at least six meters long.

Before turning to FIGS. 28 and 29, note that nano- or micro-sized hooks,loops, and/or mat can be deposited on biosafe substrates such asmaterials used in sutures. Some examples of suture materials includeplain catgut, chromic catgut, polyglycolide, polydioxanone, polyglactin,poliglecaprone, polytrimethylene carbonate, glycomer, nylon,polybutester, polypropylene, silk, and polyester.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,376 to Kurz, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety in jurisdictions permitting such incorporation, describesprocesses for dispersing a plurality of unaggregated particles, such asnanoparticles and microparticles, in a viscous medium. The dispersionscan be used for making a variety of useful materials, such as carbonnanotube composites.

For example, one process discussed in Kurz includes: providing ananocarrier dispersion comprising a dilute concentration of individualnanoparticles dispersed or dissolved in a nanocarrier solvent, thenanocarrier solvent characterized as being soluble in a viscous medium,the nanocarrier dispersion having a viscosity substantially lower thanthe viscosity of the viscous medium; contacting the nanocarrierdispersion within the viscous medium, at least a portion of thenanocarrier solvent diffusing out of the nanocarrier dispersion and intothe viscous medium; and continuously removing the nanocarrier solventfrom the viscous medium to give rise to a plurality of nanoparticlesdispersed or dissolved in the viscous medium. Another method ofdispersing particles in a viscous fluid includes: providing an particlesolution comprising solvent, particles, and polymer, the particlesolution being characterized as comprising well dispersed individualparticles and said solvent characterized as being more soluble in waterthan in the viscous fluid; continuously contacting droplets of theparticle solution with the viscous fluid in a droplet contact zone toform a mixture comprising the particles, the solvent, and the viscousfluid; transporting the droplets of the particle solution away from thedroplet contact zone, the transported droplets being richer in solventexterior to the droplet zone, the particles and polymer entering theviscous fluid; and contacting the viscous fluid with an aqueous phase atan interface zone located exterior to the droplet contact zone whilesimultaneously extracting at least a portion of the solvent out of theviscous fluid. Another method of dispersing particles in a viscousmedium includes: providing an particle solution comprising a pluralityof particles and a solvent, the particle solution being characterized ascomprising essentially well dispersed individual particles, and saidsolvent characterized as being more soluble in water than in the viscousmedium; contacting the particle solution with the viscous medium in adispersion zone to form a one-phase mixture comprising the particles,the solvent, and the fluid medium; and contacting said one-phase mixturewith an aqueous phase at an interface zone located exterior to thedispersion zone while simultaneously extracting at least a portion ofthe solvent out of the one-phase mixture and into the aqueous phase. Amethod of dispersing particles in an fluid medium includes: providing anparticle solution comprising a plurality of particles and a solvent, theparticle solution being characterized as comprising essentially welldispersed individual particles, and said solvent characterized as beingmore soluble in water than in the fluid medium; contacting the particlesolution with the fluid medium in a dispersion zone to form a one-phasemixture comprising the particles, the solvent, and the fluid medium,said contacting occurring while simultaneously sonicating both theparticle solution and the fluid medium in the dispersion zone; andcontacting said one-phase mixture with an aqueous phase at an interfacezone located exterior to the dispersion zone while simultaneouslyextracting at least a portion of the solvent out of the one-phasemixture and into the aqueous phase.

More generally, familiar processes for creating nanohooks, nanosizedmushroom heads, nanoloops, and/or nanomat can be combined with familiarprocesses for depositing nanotubes on material which is safe for apatient if left inside after surgery, or familiar processes for formingsuch nano features on such safe materials, or with familiar processesfor adhering a touch closure fastening means to a substrate. As aresult, one can obtain surgical grade tape strands which self-adhere ina releasable manner.

FIG. 28 illustrates one such surgical tape strand portion 2800 havingmicroblended nano-sized hooks and mat touch closure fastening means2802. Surgical tape strands may be used by surgeons as retractive tiesto temporarily hold blood vessel, nerves, or other tissue aside toprovide better access to a surgical area, for example, and for doing sowithout crowding the surgical field with conventional retractors andclamps. They may also be used as temporary clamps or ligatures, or assutures which have the advantage of avoiding some or all of the tissuepuncturing that might otherwise occur, because the surgical tape strandsreleasably self-adhere. The longitudinal section view of FIG. 29 shows asurgical tape strand 2800 wrapped around a blood vessel 2900 to helphold a stent 2902 in place. Some surgical tape strand embodiments areroughly the diameter of suture material, while others are larger.

Some embodiments address technical problems evident in or created bywork piece slippage or load shifting, by providing tapes 708 which notonly releasably adhere to themselves or another constituent tape of abraided or spiraled article, but also restrict or inhibit slippage andshifting by pressing one or more grips 1402 against the work pieces 2500or other parts of a load.

Some embodiments address technical problems evident in or created by oddor varying load sizes, by providing tapes 708 and tape articles whichself-adhere along their length. Bungee cords, tarps, and ratchet strapseach presume a particular load size and shape, whereas tape ropes 1900,for example, are much more flexible in accommodating odd or varying loadsizes and shapes. Like conventional ropes, tape ropes can be snuggedagainst a load in a manner limited to a large extent only by ropelength, but unlike conventional ropes, tape ropes can be fastenedwithout knots, and some of them—those including grips—also help hold thecargo from slipping or sliding. Problems caused by knot complexity orknot bulk are avoided by using a tape rope's touch closure fasteningmeans instead of tying knots, in situations where that is safe andeffective. If a load can be scratched or indented or punctured, thentape rope including a corresponding grip can be used to help secure theload. For example, framing lumber and firewood can be scratched withoutharming them, so an abrasive grip embedded in a tape rope can be used.Carpets can be punctured without harming them, so a spike grip embeddedin a tape rope can be used to help secure them. Tape ropes made withmaterials suitable for marine use, such as polypropylene, nylon, andKevlar® para-aramid synthetic fiber material (mark of E. I. DuPont deNemours and Company), can be enhanced as taught herein with embeddedtouch closure fastening means and/or grips.

CONCLUSION

Although particular embodiments are expressly illustrated and describedherein as devices, or processes for using devices, it will beappreciated that discussion of one type of embodiment also generallyextends to other embodiment types. For instance, the descriptions offastening devices also help describe processes for using such devices,and vice versa. It does not follow that limitations from one embodimentare necessarily read into another.

Reference herein to an embodiment having some feature X and referenceelsewhere herein to an embodiment having some feature Y does not excludefrom this disclosure embodiments which have both feature X and featureY, unless such exclusion is expressly stated herein. The term“embodiment” is merely used herein as a more convenient form of “device,process, system, article of manufacture, and/or other example of theteachings herein as applied in a manner consistent with applicable law.”Accordingly, a given “embodiment” may include any combination offeatures disclosed herein, provided the embodiment is consistent with atleast one claim.

Not every item or feature shown in the Figures need be present in everyembodiment. Conversely, an embodiment may contain item(s) and/orfeature(s) not shown expressly in the Figures. Although somepossibilities are illustrated here in text and drawings by specificexamples, embodiments may depart from these examples. For instance,specific technical effects or technical features of an example may beomitted, renamed, grouped differently, arranged differently, repeated,instantiated in different materials, or be a mix of effects or featuresappearing in two or more of the examples. Functionality shown at onelocation may also be provided at a different location in someembodiments; one of skill recognizes that functionality can be obtainedin various ways in a given situation without necessarily omittingdesired technical effects from a collection of interacting devices andother items viewed as a whole.

Reference has been made to the figures throughout by reference numerals.Any apparent inconsistencies in the phrasing associated with a givenreference numeral, in the figures or in the text, should be understoodas simply broadening the scope of what is referenced by that numeral.Different instances of a given reference numeral may refer to differentembodiments, even though the same reference numeral is used.

As used herein, terms such as “a” and “the” are inclusive of one or moreof the indicated item or step. In particular, in the claims a referenceto an item generally means at least one such item is present and areference to a step means at least one instance of the step isperformed.

Headings are for convenience only; information on a given topic may befound outside the section whose heading indicates that topic.

All claims and the abstract, as filed, are part of the specification.

While exemplary embodiments have been shown in the drawings anddescribed above, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart that numerous modifications can be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts set forth in the claims, and that suchmodifications need not encompass an entire abstract concept. Althoughthe subject matter is described in language specific to structuralfeatures and/or procedural acts, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific technical features or acts described above the claims. It isnot necessary for every means or aspect or technical effect identifiedin a given definition or example to be present or to be utilized inevery embodiment. Rather, the specific features and acts and effectsdescribed are disclosed as examples for consideration when implementingthe claims.

All changes which fall short of enveloping an entire abstract idea butcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beembraced within their scope to the full extent permitted by law.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape-built article comprising: at least onetape, the tape having a length and comprising a tape substrate and atouch closure fastening means; the tape substrate having at least oneside, the tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at leastfour; and the touch closure fastening means being physically connectedto the tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closurefastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate along asubstantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least three-quartersof the length of the tape.
 2. The tape-built article of claim 1, whereinthe tape has a length of at least three meters and a length-to-widthratio of at least forty.
 3. The tape-built article of claim 1, whereinthe tape has a length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratioof at least fifty.
 4. The tape-built article of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one grip strip which is physically connected to thetape.
 5. The tape-built article of claim 4, wherein the grip stripcomprises an adhesion grip substance.
 6. The tape-built article of claim4, wherein the grip strip comprises an abrasive grip substance.
 7. Thetape-built article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at leastone of: polypropylene, nylon, or para-aramid synthetic fiber.
 8. Atape-built article comprising: at least one tape, the tape having alength and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure fasteningmeans; the tape substrate having at least one side, the tape substratehaving a length-to-width ratio of at least five; the touch closurefastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate on saidat least one side, the touch closure fastening means being physicallyconnected to the tape substrate along a substantial portion of the tape,namely, along at least three-quarters of the length of the tape; and atleast one grip strip which is physically connected to the tape.
 9. Thetape-built article of claim 8, wherein the tape has a length of at leastthree meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least forty.
 10. Thetape-built article of claim 8, wherein the tape has a length of at leastsix meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least fifty.
 11. Thetape-built article of claim 8, wherein the grip strip comprises anadhesion grip substance.
 12. The tape-built article of claim 8, whereinthe grip strip comprises an abrasive grip substance.
 13. The tape-builtarticle of claim 8, wherein the substrate comprises at least one suturematerial.
 14. A tape-built article comprising: at least one tape, thetape having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closurefastening means; the tape substrate having at least one side, the tapesubstrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least four; the touchclosure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrateon said at least one side, the touch closure fastening means beingphysically connected to the tape substrate along a substantial portionof the tape, namely, along at least three-quarters of the length of thetape; and at least one grip strip which is braided with at least aportion of the tape.
 15. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein thetape has a length of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratioof at least forty.
 16. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein thetape has a length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio ofat least fifty.
 17. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the gripstrip comprises an adhesion grip substance.
 18. The tape-built articleof claim 14, wherein the grip strip comprises an abrasive gripsubstance.
 19. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the gripstrip comprises a mechanical indentation grip.
 20. The tape-builtarticle of claim 14, wherein the touch closure fastening means comprisesnanofibers.